It compares the results with a similar survey covering the period August 2007 - September 2009. The DoH cautions that the results are not comparable.

The new report finds 80% of PBC groups have received PBC budgets from their PCTs as opposed to 84% in the previous survey.

It also finds that 76% of PBC groups have agreed a commissioning plan with their PCTs, as opposed to 80% previously.

The latest report says: ‘Less positively, there has been a small decrease in the proportion of leads receiving a PBC budget from their PCT and agreeing a commissioning plan with their PCT. The next wave will reveal whether or not this is a trend.'